Rely on NOA to design and construct a modern multimedia archive

...the NOA Way

To fully unleash the potential of the invaluable content preserved in your archive, NOA suggests leaving behind conventional file repositories and highly specialized production systems.

In the 21st century, modern archives are expected to take a leading role, characterized by great organization, thorough cataloging and excellent connectivity, thereby becoming a stable pillar of your organization's competitive success.

NOA's approach entails analyzing each customer's objectives and requirements and aligning them with a standardized archive asset management system. This system boasts future-proof media preservation policies, a robust relational metadata model, and extensive customization options.

Opting for mediARC empowers NOA customers to construct precisely the archive they require in significantly less time and at a fraction of the cost compared to implementing an enterprise MAM or custom-developed archive solution.

Our Approach

Clear coaching of main stakeholders within the organization
Creating an understanding of long-term archival value
Identification of existing situation and building blocks
Creation of a clear and cost-effective archiving strategy

Stable repository with pragmatic metadata setups
Proven workflow delivery for millions of created assets
Training of representativ members of the archive and IT teams
Clear advice about recommended partners and solutions

Delivery of simple-to-use systems based on industrial NOA systems
Integration with relevant existing third-party systems
Communication with local SIs for easy deployment
Long-term relationships secured by direct S&M contracts

Starting a Project

Preserving priceless media assets is undoubtedly the challenge of a lifetime for many archivists. Especially with larger carrier collections as well as digitally born collections, preservation becomes a mid- to long-term project, requiring clear targets, careful planning, a sound strategy, state-of-the-art technology, high-quality standards, and flawless execution.

When starting a preservation project it is therefore very important to realistically assess the situation. Typically, there are three types of archives:

The Pragmatic

The archive is perceived as a tool to achieve immediate goals, primarily in production or publishing contexts. It often functions as a basic repository of files, unsuitable production media formats are employed, while descriptive metadata is typically limited, and context is often derived from file paths and filenames. Current preference leans towards archiving in PAM systems and there is little inclination or effort to ensure that content is findable and usable in both the mid-term and long-term.

The Strategic

The archiving culture is deeply ingrained, to the extent that "private" collections are maintained at the departmental or even personal level. Content inventories take various forms, ranging from paper records to Excel or WinIsis databases, each characterized by distinct metadata and structure. To streamline operations and ensure long-term preservation, a thorough inventory process and metadata consolidation are essential. This requires migrating all data to a single secure location.

The Unstructured

The archive collection is not well maintained, real carrier counts are not known, nor are the actual carrier types in the archive. Existing files are scattered between multiple departments, kept in basic folder-based NAS environments without index, descriptive metadata or common structure. Archive masters are difficult to determine, multiple versions of the same content exist and no context is provided. The archive inventory database is virtually non-existing and the project targets are unclear.

Marina Butt

NOA, Project Manager

NOA's primary focus in projects is empowerment. We assist you in evaluating your collection, sizing your project, adapting your processes, establishing a digitization factory, training your staff, and, most significantly, empowering you to embark on a journey toward building your internal expertise. Our goal is to make you your own authority in archive preservation for the 21st century.

Pre-Project Evaluation

Project questionnaire
Input analysis and clarification
On-site consultation and vault visit
Preliminary sizing and design
Budgetary indication

NOA assists archives in formulating the right questions during the consultancy phase of a project to identify gaps and prioritize meaningful approaches.

An onsite visit, coupled with an initial analysis of the archive's state, is recommended and can be incorporated into the initial tasks.

Smart Choices

NOA supports its customers by consulting and recommending best-practice solutions for each step in an archiving project, enabling them to make well-informed, smart decisions.

All our pre-sales, sales, project, and support activities are tailored to fit our partners' realities. Every company is unique, and every country has its own specific considerations, including access to the right know-how, latest technology, reliable partners, cost-effective labor, affordable spare parts, etc. What works for a German broadcaster might not be suitable for an Indonesian archive.

Our decades-long expertise with leading storage technologies such as StorNext, DIVA, XenData, LTO, and standardized metadata models guarantees our ability to identify effective solutions.

Metadata best-practice and consulting
Inventory and cataloging consulting
Technology recommendations and best-practice
Partner recommendation best-practice
System sizing and best-practice
Workflow implementation and best-practice
Timeplan consulting

Budgets

Archiving and preservation projects take diverse forms tailored to the financial constraints of archive holders. NOA recognizes the importance of accommodating varying budgetary possibilities and stands ready to offer solutions ranging from full-scale implementations to proof-of-concept initiatives or phased-out project stages.

All-In Projects

Typically, securing funding for a one-shot preservation project necessitates that organizations seek necessary resources in special funds or through partnerships, requiring thorough planning and flawless execution. NOA has successfully undertaken all-in metadata archiving AND digitization projects at multiple customers worldwide.

Proof of Concept Projects

A proof of concept can be the starting point for every successful project. Very often a detailed mediARC inventory is key to a professional assessment of the archive collection before committing to a huge investment. Constructing a robust archive is a gradual process, and NOA is pleased to support customers at every stage of their journey.

Phased Projects

Even with a well-defined vision, archives may find it necessary to extend projects over multiple years, allocating only a portion of their annual budget to archiving. A systematic, step-by-step delivery spanning several years can aid organizations in realizing their objectives. NOA is committed to providing assistance throughout every phase.

Project Delivery

NOA's commitment to flexibility in project delivery translates into a host of benefits for clients worldwide.

This adaptability allows NOA to deliver its cutting-edge systems to diverse locations across the globe, ensuring that organizations, regardless of their geographical setting, can access and leverage advanced archiving solutions.

Software-only delivery: NOA provides the software along with NOA-manufactured hardware and an exact list of requirements for locally purchased hardware items.
Complete project delivery from Vienna: The entire project can be delivered directly from Vienna after a successful factory acceptance, providing a turnkey solution.
Project development through accredited system integrators: NOA partners with accredited system integrators who have undergone necessary training to deliver the project locally.

Managing Success

NOA prioritizes the success of projects at every stage, emphasizing a commitment that extends throughout their entire duration.

Our specialized tools are designed to support service providers, archive and project managers in their roles, providing robust functionalities for monitoring, evaluating, and actively steering projects.

Multiple quality gates with clear state definitions
Thorough journaling of all tasks and workflows
Custom reporting of any data in the system
Real-time workflow monitoring and management
Local and remote system monitoring
On-demand on-site visits by NOA experts

Product documentation and knowledge base
User and admin trainings and training plans
Operator and archivist trainings on-site
Service and maintenance contracts
Seamless scaling of all digitization setups
Clear upgrade paths and long-term vision

For NOA, our commitment to our clients does not stop after the initial kick-off or project hand-over. Every project marks the beginning of an enduring partnership!

NOA's commitment extends throughout the entire lifecycle of our solutions, offering comprehensive support through tailored trainings, service and maintenance contracts, and access to our know-how. We aim to be a reliable partner, ensuring our clients' ongoing success in their digital preservation journey.

Building an Archive...